Closer Examination

Dan Clark Audio allows you to choose the cable that ships with the NOIRE X, at least if you purchase directly from them. Other retailers/distributors are likely to have a few set options, and I suspect the default selection is going to be the DUMMER cable with the 6.35 mm (1/4") source termination, which itself is a 6.35 mm to 3.5 mm single-ended screwed-on adapter over the 3.5 mm TRS termination. This is the exact same cable we saw before with the Aeon Closed X, is 2 m long, and costs $100 by itself. This review unit shipped with two cables, with the other being a DUMMER cable that has a 4.4 mm TRRRS balanced termination as seen above. You can opt for a 4-pin XLR cable also, or go for different lengths as well as selecting one of DCA's VIVO line of upgrade cables for an additional price. Check out my DCA E3 and STEALTH reviews for a better idea of what those cables are like! Going back to these cables, there isn't a lot of information available about the conductor composition and design here, but Dan had previously informed me these use a silver-plated oxygen-free copper conductor with a thin rubber sleeve to make for a light and fairly pliable cable. I've used the DUMMER cable with the Aeon Closed X for a long time now, so I am confident these will last the test of time. We see custom branded silver-colored metal hardware on the source termination followed by a simple black cable splitter that then has the two channels ending in genuine Hirose 4-pin circular connectors—one of the better headphone cable connectors I have used to date, albeit not that common when it comes to aftermarket cables. Black/red-colored strain relief helps identify the left/right channels respectively, and the metal jackets are easy to work with when installing or removing them from the headphones.


If you have read my review of the Dan Clark Audio E3 then you already know a lot of what to expect with the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE X. However, for those coming in new and for the sake of having this be a complete review, we'll cover everything as usual. There are foldable gimbals in the frame on the sides which help make the NOIRE X quite compact for when you want to store it or carry it in the provided case. The headphones unfurl to effectively become a bigger and more premium version of the DCA Aeon Closed X. The headband assembly involves the use of two thin wires made of a lightweight and tough nickel-titanium alloy (Nitinol) which is complemented by a wide leather-wrapped suspension band that has NOIRE stitched on the top in black, and this fits in well with the NOIRE X being as black as it gets. The stitching continues on the edges too, as well as the underside, and the suspension band is supple and large enough to help support the mass of the headphones more evenly across a larger surface area on the top of your head to maximize comfort. The underside of the suspension band has multiple distinct padded contact points aiding in this further, and these also allow for air to flow between the suspension band and your head to minimize any hot spots. The headband assembly meets the aluminium frame on either side where we see the DCA logo applied on the outside for further branding, albeit in a clean manner.


The inner side has the serial number engraved, among other things, and we see the use of screws to keep everything neatly assembled. This also bodes well for long term maintenance and replacement of worn suspension bands. The suspension band has a stretchy elastomer lining on either side which helps with vertical sizing of the DCA NOIRE X. The elastomer has been specifically chosen to last for years as long as you don't expose it to very hot conditions, and the leather cover helps there too. The space between this and the Nitinol headband up top is effectively the amount of room you have to accommodate these on your head, and it's plenty to fit people with head sizes small or large alike. The suspension band is also self-tensioning and not too resistant to moving up to where you won't feel the headphones are going to apply upward pressure on your ears, unlike some other such implementations I have used before. I know that some people are not fans of this headband design though. I can see those with larger and/or taller heads perhaps finding the suspension band effectively pushing the ear cups up and that may not be the most comfortable feeling. However, based on feedback from several people who have tried the DCA STEALTH, EXPANSE, and E3 before, I do feel confident that this will work well for the vast majority of people.


The gimbal system allows for two points of articulation on each side which in turn means the Dan Clark Audio NOIRE X has extensive ear cup rotation and swivel on offer. You may not be able to lay the entire thing flat, but the ear cups can be folded inward too and there is good freedom of movement in all three directions to help achieve a great fit around your ears.


The NOIRE X adopts a similar ear cup shape as the DCA STEALTH and E3, as well as the Aeon Closed X, although it is once again closer in DNA to the E3 than the others. This comes in the form of an aluminium frame ear cup that even has a Gorilla Glass 3 layer on the outside, analogous to how IEMs have decorative faceplates going over the edge and meeting the shells. This is scratch and break resistant glass, so you don't need to baby it as much as you might be originally thinking. It is extremely smooth and clean looking, even with the NOIRE X name seen towards the bottom, although it does pick up dust and fingerprints quite easily. The provided cleaning cloth will be quite handy thus, and do refrain from handling the NOIRE X with greasy/wet hands. This layer is also quite reflective, and the end result is a set of headphones that's completely black to fit the dark noir theme ongoing. There are no bass ports or a honeycomb mesh here as with the E3, and so far I see people being far more positive about how the NOIRE X looks compared to the average set of headphones in the market today. The ear cups are D-shaped as with most other DCA headphones released recently, and this works quite well in following the shape of the human ear for further comfort. I appreciate that the sides are matte and provide plenty of grip to hold on to the headphones when placing them on the head and taking them off. The ear pads naturally touch each other and this is why we had the foam spacer in the case for use when the headphones are stored.


The ear pads used an adhesive tape to help secure them in place similar to the STEALTH and E3. Going this route helps maintain a certain level of seal between the ear cups and the pads themselves. I will also mention that the ear pads are part of the equation that's gone into the final tuning of the headphones, so pad rolling is not encouraged. DCA says the tape used allows for the pads to be removed and re-installed a few times without worry, not that you would ever want to do that. I put this to the test with the E3 before, confirming that the pads and tape are indeed re-usable within reason. At this point, I realized that both the ear cups and the ear pads are smaller than the equivalent parts on the DCA E3/Stealth, making the NOIRE X even smaller than those already compact headphones. This further adds to the more subtle design language employed here, making the NOIRE X a set of headphones that you can use in public without feeling too out of place. The ear pads have an airtight microfiber suede contact surface, with the inner and outer sides using synthetic leather. The inner surface is fenestrated for added airflow, albeit only on the side facing the ear canal which is something I have never seen before. This again is a testament to the level of fine-tuning DCA does to help achieve the final sound signature from their headphones. The synthetic leather—which costs the same as fine leather—was used to allow for tighter tolerances compared to natural leather, and the synthetic materials also allow for the ear pads to be sewn more consistently. The suede is the same material used on high-end car seats. Ultimately I could not tell these were synthetics and would expect them to last the test of time compared to leather pads at least. These pads are also sculpted to where the front is narrower than the back to allow for them to more naturally go over the ears. The opening is ~76 x 44.5 mm, with the depth going from 14.5 mm at the front to 26.5 mm at the back. The pads also have an integrated mesh to help prevent contaminants from getting into the driver assembly and AMTS insert we get a sneak peek of here, and use a memory foam filling which gets softer and more conforming as the pads warm up in use, to help ensure a good fit and seal round the ears.


On the bottom of the ear cups and angled outward is where we will find the mating ends for the same Hirose 4-pin connectors on the cable. Unlike with the E3, these connectors don't jut out past the ear cups and I think it looks better as a result. Connecting the cable is best done by holding the plastic "boot" and then rotating the metal jacket inward until the notches and openings align and the connection clicks in place. Do the same on the other side and you will notice the cable naturally positions itself to the front and away from the user to not have it simply drape over your neck/chest. Removing the cable connector is as simple as just pulling back the metal jacket, thus making it one of the best such connectors to use even if there are not many aftermarket cable options. As mentioned before, you do get a choice of different source terminations and cable lengths, as well as optional upgrade cables, directly from Dan Clark Audio to help. All black Hirose connector housings would have been nice, although I get that this is easier said than done for a relatively small headphones manufacturer. I will also point out that the ear cup design makes it easy to place the NOIRE X on the desk facing you, to make for a set of headphones you can quickly take off and put back on without much fidgeting needed or taking much room on your desk. There's no need for a dedicated headphone stand thus, although having one is a good idea in general—just remember to support these by the metal headband and not the suspension band.